Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Peanut Allergic Patient: Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention, Daniel W. Hill, Jane H. Lassetter, Craig Nuttall

Faculty Publications

The prevalence of peanut allergies (PAs) continues to rise through recent decades, despite the best attempts to reverse that trend. PAs are unpredictable and can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is imperative that nurse practitioners (NPs) are fully aware of the most recent guidelines and evidence regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of PAs. This article presents information on the current research in the diagnosis and treatment of PAs as well as the latest guidelines established to prevent PA development. NPs should understand this information, allowing them to provide the best care possible for their patients.

Fewer Acute Respiratory Infection Episodes Among Patients Receiving Treatment For Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Herng-Ching Lin, Sudha Xirasagar, Shiu-Dong Chung, Chung-Chien Huang, Ming- Chieh Tsai, Chao-Hung Chen

Faculty Publications

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) present with comorbid complications with implications for healthcare utilization. To date, little is known about the effects of GERD treatment with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) on patients’ subsequent healthcare utilization for acute respiratory infections (ARIs). This population-based study compared ARI episodes captured through outpatient visits, one year before and one year after GERD patients received PPI treatment. We used retrospective data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 in Taiwan, comparing 21,486 patients diagnosed with GERD from 2010 to 2012 with 21,486 age-sex matched comparison patients without GERD. Annual ARI episodes represented by ambulatory …

Using Survival Analysis To Identify Risk Factors For Treatment Interruption Among New And Retreatment Tuberculosis Patients In Kenya, Enos O. Masini, Omar Mansour, Clare E. Speer, Vittorio Addona, Christy L. Hanson, Joseph K. Sitienei, Hillary K. Kipruto, Martin Muhingo Githiomi, Brenda Nyambura Mungai

Faculty Publications

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Despite high tuberculosis (TB) treatment success rate, treatment adherence is one of the major obstacles to tuberculosis control in Kenya. Our objective was to identify patient-related factors that were associated with time to TB treatment interruption and the geographic distribution of the risk of treatment interruption by county. Data of new and retreatment patients registered in TIBU, a Kenyan national case-based electronic data recording system, between 2013 and 2014 was obtained. Kaplan-Meier curves and log rank tests were used to assess the adherence patterns. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards modeling was used for multivariate analysis. Records from 90,170 patients were …

Investigation Of Stilbenoids As Potential Therapeutic Agents For Rotavirus Gastroenteritis, Judith M. Ball, Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, Katelyn D. Defrates, Emily Hambleton, Megan E. Hurlburt, Lingling Fang, Tianhong Yang, Luis Nopo-Olazabal, Richard L. Atwill, Pooj Ghai, Rebecca D. Parr

Faculty Publications

Rotavirus (RV) infections cause severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Vaccines are available but cost prohibitive for many countries and only reduce severe symptoms. Vaccinated infants continue to shed infectious particles, and studies show decreased efficacy of the RV vaccines in tropical and subtropical countries where they are needed most. Continuing surveillance for new RV strains, assessment of vaccine efficacy, and development of cost effective antiviral drugs remain an important aspect of RV studies. This study was to determine the efficacy of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory stilbenoids to inhibit RV replication. Peanut (A. hypogaea) hairy root cultures were induced …

Tendinopathy: Setting The Record Straight, Craig Nuttall, Ryan Rasmussen

Faculty Publications

Tendinopathy is a commonly diagnosed injury. Traditionally, tendinopathy was considered to be caused by an inflammatory process. It is now known that a majority of tendinopathies are caused by tendinosis, a failed healing response resulting in a degenerated tendon. The recurrent nature of tendinopathies can present a challenge for the health care provider and be very frustrating for the patient. There are several principles that should be followed when treating tendinopathies. These principles include rest, ice, eccentric exercises, and avoidance of corticosteroid injections. Proper treatment of tendinopathies can lead to optimal healing and decrease the risk of recurrence.

Dual Diagnosis, Mutual-Help Use, And Outcomes: A Naturalistic Follow-Up, Erin Woodhead, Alexandra Hindash, Christine Timko

Faculty Publications

Objective: Individuals with dual diagnoses benefit from participation in mutual-help groups, though it is unclear how much such participation contributes to outcomes when accounting for utilization of treatment. Methods: We used mixed-model regressions to examine associations between participation in mutual-help groups reported at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups with substance use and psychiatric outcomes among outpatients with dual diagnoses (N = 304), while controlling for amounts of substance use disorder and mental health outpatient treatment. Results: Follow-up rates were 81%, 82%, and 84% at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively. Mean involvement in mutual-help groups (scale of …

Cost-Efficient Treatment Options For Uninsured Or Underinsured Patients For Five Common Conditions, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Neil E. Peterson, Joey Wilkinson

Faculty Publications

The nurse practitioner's (NP's) role in providing quality care continues to evolve, concurrent with the ever-evolving health care system. With an influx of uninsured and underinsured patients, NPs must not only provide high-quality health care, they must also address cost-efficient treatment options for patients who cannot afford expensive medications. Familiarity with the cost of medications and prescribing cost-efficient medications are valuable tools NPs can use to encourage patient compliance with a specific care regimen, consequently improving the overall health of uninsured or underinsured individuals. Knowledge of patient assistance programs may also assist NPs in decreasing prescription drug costs for patients. …

Transmission Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Associated With Failed Completion Of Treatment For Latent Tuberculosis Infection - Chickasaw County, Mississippi, June 1999-March 2002, T. Chamblee, D. Hartley, M. Holcombe, K. Parham, P. Upchurch, R. M. Webb, Alyssa G. Robillard, L. Diem, B. Metchock, N. Deluca, P. D. Mcelroy, T. Navin, W. Walton, P. K. Dewan

Faculty Publications

During June 1999-March 2002, a total of 16 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported from Chickasaw County, Mississippi (2000 population: 19,440), corresponding to annual TB incidences of 20.5-27.6 cases per 100,000 population. In comparison, annual TB incidences for Mississippi during the same period decreased from 7.8 to 5.4 cases per 100,000 population. This report summarizes the results of an investigation of the patients and their contacts and demonstrates the need for strategies to increase the proportion of infection contacts that successfully complete treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI).